SAFETY FIRST: Observing the Sun without the proper protection may result in serious personal injury, including permanent eye damage and blindness, and/or damage to equipment. Never point an optic at the sun without an approved solar filter on the front of the optic. For direct solar viewing, viewing the sun through an optic, or when using cameras with an optical viewfinder, ensure your filter is ISO 12312-2 (also written as ISO 12312-2:2015) certified. Never use photographic neutral density filters for direct solar viewing, viewing the sun through an optic, or when using cameras with an optical viewfinder.

Coronado SMT60DS-15 overview

Coronado's versatile SolarMax II 60 60mm f/6.6 H-alpha Double-Stack Solar Telescope is calibrated for the hydrogen-alpha wavelength, and comes equipped with their RichView tuning system. This system allows direct adjustment of the primary etalon filter enabling it to be tuned up or down from the 6562.8Å wavelength for highlighting specific zones of the chromosphere and to compensate for Doppler shift that can pull prominences and other features off-band and affect views. Tuning areas of concentration back on-band, allows for higher-contrast views of prominences on the solar limb.

Its primary internal etalon provides a bandpass of 0.7Å which will reveal prominences in high contrast. Prominences generally appear larger with this size filter than in narrower bandwidths. This version of the SolarMax II comes with a secondary etalon that fits on the front of the OTA and narrows the bandpass to 0.5 Angstroms. At this bandpass, surface contrast is improved versus wider bandpasses. This ability to change the bandpass allows users to see more areas of the Sun than with a single-etalon solar scope. Complementing the etalon filters is a rear 90° 15mm blocking filter. This secondary filter further isolates the H-alpha wavelength for better views. While a smaller blocking filter would suffice, Coronado includes this larger option to allow the use of eyepieces with larger field-stop diameters to be used without vignetting occurring, as might be seen with smaller filters, which would interfere with the field of view

The SolarMax II is offered here without a mount or tripod, but comes with a wide clamshell mounting ring that is outfitted with a 1/4"-20 socket for attachment onto many photo/video/field tripods or on piggyback rigs, or an optional Vixen-style dovetail plate is available for use with conventional alt-az, EQ, or motorized telescope mounts.

Coronado SMT60DS-15 reviews

Rated 5 out of
5 by
Anonymous from
Hope to use the scope soon.A well designed scope, rugged construction and excellent case for transport. Have not used it as the mounting plate from Meade did not come with screws to mount it to the scope.